You’re joking, right? Common Misconceptions About Web Design: Part 1

In this 3 part blog series we’re slaying the lies you’ve been fed about the web design process and setting the record straight. Whether you’re just starting to think about building a website or are already well into the designing phase, knowing these misconceptions will make for a much better interaction between you and a design company.

Misconception #1 – Websites Can Be Built in One Day

Even the most experienced website coder/designer will tell you this is not true. In fact, it would be rather naive and uneducated of a designer to say they’ll have your website up and running before sundown.

Quality Over Speed

If you’re going through the effort to hire a design team to build your site, chances are you’re seeking out quality work. Twenty-four hours simply just isn’t enough time to attain the quality online presence your brand deserves.

While there are ways to expedite the web design process, there is no-doubt going to be a revision phase that will extend the time necessary to complete the project. Your design team will want to give you layout options to choose from to ensure your vision is fulfilled. If you’re working with professionals, they are going to take time to produce a unique product, not just a rushed creation from a template.

Ensuring that the individual parts of the site match and work seamlessly together is also going to take a bit of time. The size of your website, meaning how many pages your site is comprised of, can also have a significant impact on the time it takes to complete the project. Obviously, the more pages that need to be designed, the longer it will take to build.

Misconception #2 – Everyone’s Opinion Matters

It is simply impossible to incorporate everybody’s vision for the site into the design and still make it look good. This is especially important to creating a cohesive feel and flow within the site, leaving a crisp and clean impression on your visitors.

Reaching a Compromise

Making an executive decision about which elements to include in your site means you’ll probably need to assign one person from your company as the decision maker. Of course it’s important to discuss ideas for your website amongst other key players in your business, but how are your designers ever going to be able to move forward if they are hearing different things from different people? Everyone needs to be on the same page when embarking on your web design adventure. Present a unified vision to the design company you’ve hired.

Consider your Audience’s Preferences Before your Own

Your web design preferences may not be what your audience prefers. We understand that your website is important to you; you’ve invested a lot into it and we want you to love it. But remember, it’s more important for your visitors to love your site than it is for you to love your site. After all, they’re the ones that need convincing to engage with your brand.

Misconception #3 – People Will Visit My Website Because I Built a Website

Thinking people will visit your site simply because it exists is like throwing a party and not inviting anyone to celebrate.

Nope. That’s just not how it works. Sorry not sorry.

Don’t make the assumption that just because you have a website people will find it and interact with it. Your website is just one option amongst the abyss of information available online and it probably won’t “go viral” no matter how stellar the design is.

Direct Traffic to Your Online Hub

There’s a lot of work involved in getting your website to rank high in search engines. Online visibility can be earned by optimizing your site for keywords and practicing other SEO techniques. While some people may find your site organically, you’ll need to integrate your site into your other marketing efforts to boost traffic to it. This can be as simple as:

Adding your web address to printed marketing materials, like brochures and business cards.

Linking to your site from social media posts and updates.

Sending emails that connect to resources on your website.

Long story short, let your audience know your brand is online and work to engage people with your site.

Misconception #4 – Logos: The Bigger the Better

Do you like being yelled at? I know I don’t. That’s essentially what a big logo does to people; it yells at them and makes them want to run away.

Making a logo bigger on the homepage of a website is something a lot of people ask for but don’t need. Sure it should be big enough to show details and allow for legible text, but it doesn’t need to shout.

Persuade with Professionalism

Your logo and brand name are important, but it’s all the other content on the site that is going to convince your visitors of your credibility in the industry. Converting visitors into leads for your business is more likely to happen by offering them educational resources and proving your expertise about a product or service, not by throwing a logo that takes up the entire screen in their face.